String Box and Method of Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

A string box and method of use thereof. The string box may be designed in any shape or size and be made up of any rigid material and the string may be designed in any shape or size and be made of any material such as cotton, cat gut, nylon, plastic, nanoparticle, graphine like material, atoms or any material within the realm of science and knowledge that would provide enough strength to act as a string type of material that can be used to suspend the object with enough strength to hold the item being shipped, stored or otherwise used so that the object being placed in the box is in suspension essentially keeping the object being damaged or hitting the sides of the container it is being shipped, stored or otherwise used in. The box is uniquely designed to allow for a simple one-step process using a box with an integrated string system that is used to suspend an article to be to be packaged. This completely protects the article and removes the need for air other gas, peanuts, foam, bubble wrap, paper or other fillers in boxes used for shipping goods once the box is closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, generally, to methods of packaging and shipping items. More particularly, it relates to a method of protecting an item to be shipped.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of different types of packaging for shipping articles is well known. Shipped articles can come in all sizes and shapes. These articles can be fragile or hardy (i.e., the article is considered non-fragile). There are several types and forms of packaging, including peanuts, paper, bubble plastic, foam, inflatable boxes, etc. However, all of the packaging materials mentioned can cause waste disposal and recycling issues except the inflatable box technology which would have minimal affect on the waste disposal and recycling.

Different attempts at providing an effective inflatable packaging material and/or system have been made, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,905,835 and 4,969,312 to Pivert, which are limited to a rectangular box with inflatable structures that are inserts into the box, thereby requiring multiple steps for use, from insertion of the inflatable structures to closure of the box. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,533 to Farison provides an inflatable cushion through a single inflation valve, which must be inserted into the box with the article. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,677 to Pozzo is a shipping container and inflatable packaging cushion that must be partially filled, then the article is inserted, and following steps are required.

While the prior art provides protection to the articles within a box, the conventional art suffers from a number of drawbacks.

The inflation, insertion, and closure of the prior art devices all require multiple steps and are not simple, efficient methods of shipping articles or products using an inflatable cushion. The prior art requires tedious methods for inflation. For instance, the prior art requires that certain cushions be inflated before others in a specific sequence, that cushions be inflated before insertion into the box, and complex sequences of events for closure of box flaps and/or self-locking flaps. They require optimal inflation to work properly and finally require multiple cushions to provide adequate protection to the article shipped.

The use of the inflatable box system U.S. Pat. No. 8,281,928 is a very effective and novel system and this system does not replace the novelty of that system except with unexpected results that teaches away from all of the prior art in many aspects not withstanding environmental impact. The foregoing issues are just some, not all, of the limitations seen in the conventional art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to advance the art of packaging past the drawbacks of the prior art with reference to complexity, usage, cost and environmental impact, thus providing packaging that is simple to use, requires minimal instruction, has the minimum number of parts, and is cost-effective. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that allows for an easy automation.

Certain embodiments of the present invention include a method relating to an automated or manual packaging system using an inflatable box (or tube) of any shape and size. The box is uniquely designed to allow for a simple one-step process using a box with a string system that is attached to internal opposite walls or corners or sides of the box or attached to the external opposite internal walls or corners or sides of the container (box, tube, etc.), or attached the inside the wall or container, inside-outside or any part of side of the external walls or corners or sides of the container that is being shipped and then to the article being shipped. The method of attachment to the inside, internal, outside, etc, or other part of the box can be by using glue, tape, hook, knot, friction, clap bolt, anchor, staple, nail, eye hook, tying off in a suitable manner to hold the string or any suitable means that will hold the string to the container wall(s), corner(s) or section(s) of the container that is needed in order to hold the article being suspended in the box for possible shipment, storage or other use. The box could is also designed to use a string net system that would surround the article being ship with biodegradable string or string made of any material that is suitable and strong enough to suspend the article without breaking. The string box system protects the article to be shipped three-dimensionally. This completely protects the article and removes the need for peanuts, paper or other fillers in boxes used for shipping goods once the box is closed, thus increasing the safety of using the of the article being shipped and a viable alternative to the inflatable box type systems. This would also lighten the weight of the package considerably as compared to peanuts, paper or other packaging.

Correspondingly, another object of the present art is to provide a packaging method that will allow the user to insert the article to be shipped and to close the box prior to suspending the object and or suspend the object to be shipped prior to closing—this advantage is unexpected and teaches away from the prior art. This has several marked advantages over the prior art, such as increasing safety by eliminating the hazard of the an inflatable bladder (i.e., air cushion) exploding in the face of the user if over-inflated, the string or line, etc., used to suspend the object can be out of any material that is strong enough to keep the object suspended. The string can be made of cotton, cat gut, nylon, plastic, nanoparticle, graphine like material, atoms or any material within the realm of science and knowledge that would provide enough strength to act as a string type of material that can be used to suspend the object with enough strength to hold the item being shipped in suspension essentially keeping the object being shipped from hitting the sides of the container it is being shipped, stored or otherwise used in. The string could also be in the form of a net (similar to a fishing net or other type of string and/or webbing that would have net or web like properties that could hold an article in suspension and away from the walls of the containers). The string could be attached to all or some of the corners and/or walls of the box or container being used for shipping or the string could attach to the bottom of box or to the sides of a tube and/or bottom of a tube or tube like shipping container and the box, etc. There is no need for bleed valves or other devices that will release air when pressure reaches a certain level.

In addition, the present invention provides a unique—unexpected and novel way to ship and fully protect the article being shipped with no valves or any other inflation method required. This method is the first to ever be completely biodegradable environmentally friendly. For example a box (or other container) could be made out of cardboard and the string used to suspend the article being shipped made out of natural cotton fiber.

It has been found that the foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished in accordance with this invention by providing a box, cube, ball, tube, or any other shipping container with a simple string attached to the inside, inner or outer part of the wall of the container in a manner that allows suspension of the article being shipped, stored or otherwise used. The process is simple, place the object into the box (or shipping container), attach string to the object being shipped or the string is already attached to the walls of the shipping container and the object is just placed in the string (for examples: a net made of string or string(s) such that the article being shipped is just placed string-net systems) so that the object is suspended between the wall of the container. The box is closed and ready to ship. This allows for a fully automated string packaging system.

The present invention provides a method of packaging an article using packaging as defined above, said method characterized by the following steps:

-   -   a) Closing the bottom flaps of the box;     -   b) Placing the article to be shipped in fluid communication with         the string in the box;     -   c) And Closing the top flaps of the box.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention appear more clearly from reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, such as the determination of which end of the box, cube, tube, or other container is used for placing the item to be shipped into the bottom or top, etc.

Certain aspects of the present art can be found in the prior art, such as the use of a box or carton or tube or cube as a container for shipping an article such as a smart phone but there is no prior art that even remotely teaches the present invention and it present invention is a marked advancement in the field of shipping and logistic and will have an enormous positive impact on the environment. The results of this technology by the use of the “string” as an essential part of packaging and shipping are unexpected. All of the prior art in this field teaches away from this technology of the string in that all of the prior art are focused and require placing something in the shipping container such as peanuts, bubble wrap, paper, air, or some other gas, bladder, etc., into the device being shipped but the novel art requires placing nothing in the box at all in order to ship the article safety resulting in less weight than boxes using packaging such as a bladder systems, peanuts, paper, etc., thereby reducing weight which has its own impact on the environment such as saving fuel, weight, tire and road wear as a result of light weight. The prior art teaches away from this technology's advancement in the art in that it requires and focuses on putting some form of packaging into the container to protect the article being shipped. The present art's use of the string markedly advances the state of the art in the packaging industry. Specifically, the current invention provides the user with the unexpected benefits of simplicity, efficiency, cost (no more packaging required—less weight and cost) and safety by placing an article(s) for shipment into a box, closing the box, and shipping it. The prior art teaches away from the present invention in that it teaches the use of packaging material in the form of bladders, peanuts, bubble wrap, paper, foam, etc., before closure of the box, etc. Thus, the current invention advances the state of the art through its novel, useful, and nonobvious apparatus and methodology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become obvious from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the string box made in accordance with this invention, shown prior to closure of the top and placement of the article in the box;

FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of FIG. 1 prior to closure of the top flaps illustrating the suspension in air of the article being packaged by the string;

FIG. 3 is a frontal outline side view of the box in FIG. 1 illustrating the string attachment to the rear right top corner of the box and to the front bottom corner of the box while holding the article being packaged suspended in place and not touching any of the walls;

FIG. 4 is a rear outline side view of the box in FIG. 1 illustrating the string attachment to the rear right top corner of the box and to the front bottom corner of the box while holding the article being packaged suspended in place and not touching any of the walls;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the box illustrating the article being packaged is suspended away from the walls of the box by the string.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown. It is understood from the embodiments that a person skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such variations and modifications may include changing the size or shape of a box, tube, cube, or other container used for shipping, the material that the box is made up can be up any material like cardboard, paper product, plastic, etc, that can be used for shipping, the string itself is in fluid communication or attached or touching the article so as to enable suspension of the article being shipped can be made out of any material that can offer the strength and ability to hold the article being packaged in suspension in the shipping container away from the walls of the container such as cotton, cat gut, nylon, plastic, nanoparticle, graphine like material, atoms or any material within the realm of science and knowledge that would provide enough strength to act as a string type of material that can be used to suspend the object with enough strength to hold the item while being shipped and the string itself can be in many alternate forms and shapes such as a simple cotton string to a cotton net (similar to a fishing net or other type of string and/or webbing that would have net or web like properties that could hold an article in suspension and away from the walls of the containers). The string(s) could be attached to just 2 opposite sides or walls or opposite sections of the container or to a side and angled to another side or wall or section of the inside of the container. The string(s) could be attached at angles relative to the article being shipped and walls or opposite sides or some of the corners and/or walls/or sections of the box or container being used for shipping or the string could attach to the bottom or top of box or to the sides of a tube and/or bottom of a tube or tube like shipping container and the box—basically to any inside section of the shipping container at any angle to the article as long as the article is being suspended so as not to touch the walls of the container.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, string box 11 as shown and the bottom flaps are in a closed position and not shown. The plan view of FIG. 1 shows the box 11 in an open position with the flaps 7, 10, 12 and 13 illustrating that they are open. Also illustrated is the box corner string 1 attachment point 3 at the top rear of the box 11 as it faces the viewer and box 11 corner string 1 attachment point 4 at the front left of the box 11. The material used for the string 1 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 can range from rubber to plastic or cotton, cat gut, nylon, plastic, nanoparticle, graphine like material, atoms or any material within the realm of science and knowledge that would provide enough strength to act as a string type of material that can be used to suspend the object with enough strength to hold the item being packaged in suspension essentially keeping the object being packaged from hitting the sides of the box 11 and or container it is being packaged, shipped, stored, etc., in. The string 1 could also be in the form of a net (similar to a fishing net or other type of string 1 and/or webbing that would have net or web like properties that could hold an article 2 in suspension and away from the walls 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the box and or container being used). The string 1 could be attached to all or some of the corners, sections and/or walls of the box or container being used for packaging or the string could attach to the bottom of box or to the sides of a tube and/or bottom of a tube or tube like packaging container. The Box 11 of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 4, and 5 can be made of cardboard, paper, plastic, wood, corrugated paper 14, or other suitable materials that can be used to make a shipping container.

As shown in FIG. 2, the string 1 is attached to the top right corner of the box 3 as illustrated next to the rear panel 9 and opposite the front panel 5 of the box 11. The string 1 is attached at the corner 3 and is also attached to the opposite corner 4 at the front left corner of the box as illustrated in the cut-away view of the box 11 in FIG. 2. The article 2 being placed and/or attached to the string 1 by any suitable means such as glue, chemical, magnetic, heat, cold, glue, tape, hook, knot, friction, clap bolt, anchor, staple, nail, eye hook, tying off in a suitable manner to hold the string 1 or any suitable means that will hold the string to the container wall(s), corner(s) or any section of the box 11 or package or container being used or by any suitable means to the internal part of the wall or any suitable means to the external part of the wall or section of the container that will affect the suspension of the article inside of the box 11 and or container used of any shape or size. Therefore the string 1 in its many possible forms can be integrated into the internal or any part of the inner, interior or outside part of the container the string needs to be attached to so as to suspend the article 2 to the container or box 11 for this example. Once the article 2 has been suspended by the string 1 the flaps 7, 10, 12 and 13 or the corners 3, 4 or other corners of the box 11 or any container being used in order to hold the article 2 being suspended in the box 11 for possible packaging, shipment, storage or other use.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the suspension of the article 2 by the string 1. FIG. 3 is a is a frontal outline side view of the box 11 of FIG. 1 illustrating the string 1 attachment to the rear right top corner 3 of the box 11 and to the front bottom corner 4 of the box 11 while holding the article 2 suspended in place and not touching any of the walls 5, 6, 8 and 9. While FIG. 4 is a rear outline side view of the box 11 of FIG. 1 illustrating the string 1 attachment to the rear right top corner 3 of the box 11 and to the front bottom corner 4 of the box 11 while holding the article 2 suspended in place and not touching any of the walls 5, 6, 8 and 9.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the box 11 of FIG. 1 illustrating the article 2 suspended away from the walls of the box 11 by the string

A method of inflatable packing or cushioning article 2 to be shipped is also contemplated by the current invention. The basic steps are as follows:

-   -   a) Closing the bottom flaps of the box;     -   b) Placing the article to be packaged into the box in fluid         communication with the string;     -   c) Closing the top flaps of the box;

The simplicity and novelty of the present invention has not been taught in the conventional art. The unexpected results of the present invention teaches away from any prior art. It is contemplated that packaging of box 11 can be automated. For example, an assembly line may have boxes traversing a conveyor belt with the bottom of the boxes closed, leaving the top open. Then an article can simply be placed inside of the box through automated means (via a machine) or manual means (via an operator). Then the box 11 would continue traversing the conveyor belt to a string 1 securing station where an automated or manual means could be utilized to put the article 2 in fluid communication with the string 1. The current invention provides an apparatus and methodology that significantly improves cost efficiency within the packaging industry, for example in shipping cost, time, weight, and labor.

To further explain and example of the string box 11, it comprises a string box 11 made up of a rigid material or the like, with an attached string 1 or string(s) 1 or any manner of netting as described made up of any suitable material or the like attached to the inner wall or sections of the box 11 or container or through the inner wall of section of the box 11 or container. The string(s) 1 tension can be secured after closing flaps of the box (top and bottom), said string(s) 1 can for example that could extend beyond the internal sides and or sections (or interior sides or sections) of the box 11 through hole(s) in the walls or section of the box 11 (container) that are angled enough to each other so that the opposite holes are angled at a sufficient amount that will allow suspension of the article after the box 11 has been closed then can be pulled and tightened, or tied, or knotted or secured by any suitable manner to the inside, internal or outside wall of sections of the box 11 or container.

The current invention further teaches a method of packaging where an article 2 can be packaged using an string box comprising an outer rigid cardboard material or the like with bottom and top flaps, and a string 1 system attached to the inside walls of the box 11. Sidewalls interconnect the top and bottom walls, such that the box can be opened and closed so that the article can be introduced into or removed from the box. Therefore, the present invention is a string box and method of use thereof. The string box may be designed in any shape or size and be made up of any rigid material and the string may be designed in any shape or size and be made of any material such as cotton, cat gut, nylon, plastic, nanoparticle, graphine like material, atoms or any material within the realm of science and knowledge that would provide enough strength to act as a string type of material that can be used to suspend the object with enough strength to hold the item being shipped, packaged, stored or otherwise used so that the object being placed in the box is in suspension essentially keeping the object being damaged or hitting the sides of the container it is being shipped, stored or otherwise used in. The box is uniquely designed to allow for a simple one-step process using a box with an integrated string system that is used to suspend an article to be packaged. This completely protects the article and removes the need for air other gas, peanuts, foam, bubble wrap, paper or other fillers in boxes used for shipping goods once the box is closed.

To further explain the method of the string box (e.g. container) for protecting an item being packaged otherwise comprising the steps of: providing a container having a hollow interior defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls interconnecting said top and bottom walls; adapting said container to be opened and closed so that said item may be introduced into or removed from said container; affixing an string to the interior of said container, said string is affixed to said sidewalls or sections of said container at such an angle as to suspend said item from touching or coming into contact with said interior of said container; providing fluid communication between said string and said interior of container so that the said item being packaged is connected to the said string that is connected to the said container and said container is then closed. The method furthers comprises the steps of forming an additional opening in a wall of said container and allowing said string to be pulled through the said wall of said container; and providing fluid communication between said article and said string so that said article being packaged is in attached to said string and the string can then be pulled through opening in said container and tightened to enable suspending said article from coming into contact with said walls of container. In addition the method further comprises the said steps of affixing said string within said hollow interior of said container includes affixing said string to opposite walls, corners or sections of said container at a sufficient angle so the said item is not in fluid contact with said wall or side of container. The method of the string box further comprises a said container formed of a rigid material and semi-rigid material and the string of the method further comprises said string is formed of any material, size and shape to enable suitable suspending of said item in said container.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment and the operation thereof, and it is understood that variations, modifications, and substitution of equivalent means can be effected and still remain within the spirit and scope of the invention. All such modifications and variations are to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for protecting an item being packaged otherwise comprising the steps of: providing a container having a hollow interior defined by a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls interconnecting said top and bottom walls; adapting said container to be opened and closed so that said item may be introduced into or removed from said container; affixing an string to the interior of said container, said string is affixed to said sidewalls or sections of said container at such an angle as to suspend said item from touching or coming into contact with said interior of said container; providing fluid communication between said string and said interior of container so that the said item being packaged is connected to the said string that is connected to the said container and said container is then closed.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: forming an additional opening in a wall of said container; allowing said string to be pulled through the said wall of said container; and providing fluid communication between said article and said string so that said article being packaged is in attached to said string and the string can then be pulled through opening in said container and tightened to enable suspending said article from coming into contact with said walls of container.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: said step of affixing said string within said hollow interior of said container includes affixing said string to opposite walls, corners or sections of said container at a sufficient angle so the said item is not in fluid contact with said wall or side of container.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: said container formed of a rigid material.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: said container formed of a semi-rigid material.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: said string is formed of any material, size and shape to enable suitable suspending of said item in said container. 